Grocer&#39;s bin.



A. RHODES.

GROCERS BIN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. m5

Patented July 25, 1916.

( i BRHHHM RHODES ABRAHAM RHODES, OF CORYDON, INDIANA.

GROCERS BIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed October 13, 1915. Serial No. 55,641.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM Rrroons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corydon, in the county of Harrison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grocers Bins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in grocers bins and has for its primary object to provide improved means for readily discharging a commodity from any one of a plurality of bins into a scale, said means including improved controlling valves for the individual bins or containers, whereby the entrance of dust, dirt or insects to the interior of the bin is absolutely precluded.

The invention has for an additional object to provide a device of the above character which is highly serviceable and convenient in practical use, and may be produced at comparatively small manufacturing cost.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a cut-off or controlling valve for the outlet of the container, which is simple in its construction, positive and reliable in operation, and may be easily and quickly actuated.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a series or gang of bins or containcrs with a movable weighing scale and scoop arranged beneath the same; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cut-off valve in its open position; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line 14,- of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates a plurality of inverted bins or canisters which are mounted between vertical end supports 6, said supports being suitably fixed at their lower ends to the counter shown at C. The lower ends of these canisters 6 are of tapering conical form, as indicated at 7, and terminate in the longitudinally extended outlet spouts 8. The spout ,8 is fixed in the bottom wall 10 of a housing 9. The upper edge of the vertical wall of this housing is suitably secured to the conical lower end 7 of the container. The discharge spout 8 is entirely cut away from the body wall of the container and spaced therefrom to provide a horizontal passage for the sliding valve plate 11. This valve plate is movable in spaced guides 12 arranged within the casing 9 and suitably fixed to the wall thereof. The valve plate 11 is of elongated rectangular form and is movable through a slot 13 in the vertical wall of the casing 9.

14 designates a length of resilient wire which is provided intermediate of its ends with a spring coil 15. This wire, on opposite sides of the coil, is formed into opposed bowed arms 16 and 17, respectively. The arm 16 is fixed, as at 18, to the wall of the casing 9 while the other arm 17 on the opposite side of the casing is loosely engaged in a guide eye or loop 19 on the outer end of the sliding valve plate 11. The two arms 16 and 17 terminate in suitable finger pieces 20. The plate 11 is provided, intermediate of its ends, with a circular opening 21 which is normally disposed at one side of the discharge spout 8, as shown in Fig. 2.

Upon the surface of the counter C, a suitable track 22 is arranged, upon which a scale, indicated at 23, is mounted to travel. This scale is provided with a scoop or other suitable receptacle 24. to receive the material from any one of the several canisters 5.

In the operation of my invention, it will be understood that the scale 23 is moved along the track 22 until the scoop is disposed beneath the desired container 5. The operator then grasps the finger pieces 20 of the valve spring 14 and presses the same together, thereby forcing the plate 11 inwardly until the opening 21 therein is disposed in registering relation with the bore of the discharge spout 8 so that the material in the container will flow downwardly through said spout and into the receptacle 24. Upon releasing pressure upon the finger terminals 20, the valve plate 11 will be returned to its normal position by the spring coil 15 and bowed arm 17 so as to out off the further supply of material.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my in vention will be clearly and fully understood,

't'acturing cost.

By the provision of a cut-off valve such as above described, the bin or canister is ahso lutely closed so that the entrance of [lies or other insects to the interior of the container is etl'ectually prevented. Thus, the contents of the containers will be kept in a sanitary condition. 13y arranging the traveling scale beneath the series of canisters, the scale can be conveniently moved and positioned beneath the selected canister and the desired coimnodity thus easily and quickly discharged into the scoop.

The device as a whole, consists of comparatively few parts which are all of simple term and it is, therefore, apparent that the invention can be produced at small manu- It is, of course, apparent that the canisters can be of any desired form and capacity and a greater or less number of the same may be assembled in a series, as shown. The device is also susceptible of various other modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of the several parts and it will, therefore, be understood that I desire to reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a container hav ing a discharge spout, of a sliding valve plate traversing the discharge spout, a length of resilient wire having a spring coil intermediate of its ends and opposed bowed arms, one of said arms being fixed and the other arm having a sliding connection with one end of the valve plate to normally hold said valve plate in position to close the discharge spout, said valve plate being provided with an opening therein whereby,

when the arms are moved toward each other, said openings are disposed in registration with the bore of the discharge spout.

2. The combination with a container having a discharge spout and a closed casing fixed to the wall of the container and surrounding the discharge spout, said spout ex tending through the bottom wall of the casing; of a valve plate slidably mounted within said casing and traversing the discharge spout, said plate being provided with an opening to register with the bore of the dis charge spout, and a. length of resilient wire having a spring coil illtOl'HlCtlliltG of its ends and oppositely related bowed arms, one oi said arms being fixed to the exterior of said casing and the other arm having a slidable connection with the outer end of the valve plate, said latter arm normally holding the valve plate in its closed position, the opening in the plate being disposed in registration with the bore of the discharge spout when the extremities of the arms are forced together.

The combination with a container having a discharge spout and a closed casing fixed to the wall of the container and surrounding the discharge spout, of a valve plate slidably mounted within said casing and traversing the discharge spout, said plate being provided with an opening to register with the bore of the discharge spout, and operating means for said plate fixed to the exterior of said casing and including a movable part slidably connected to one end of the valve plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A BRAHAM RHODES.

lVitnesses J. A. FINNELL,

E. B. Lovn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

